Educational activities teach residents importance of butterflies at the first Butterfly Festival

Educational activities teach residents importance of butterflies at the first Butterfly Festival

(National Park, NJ) Residents and visitors are invited to celebrate butterflies and their important place in our natural world at Gloucester County's first ever Butterfly Festival sponsored by the Gloucester County Certified Gardeners. The celebration will be held at Red Bank Battlefield in National Park on July 14, 2018, from noon until 4 p.m.

Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger said, "Butterflies are more than just beautiful to look at, they also play an important role in our gardens and environment. Just the presence of butterflies alone signifies a healthy garden and healthy environment."

The event is free to attend and will consist of vendors and activities for all ages. Free crafts, games, balloon art and face painting all provide something fun and educational for the kids while vendors will be selling butterfly-friendly plants and various hand-crafted objects.

There will also be performances including the Insect Show by the Philadelphia Insectarium at 1 p.m. followed by the Butterfly and Bug Parade at 2:30 p.m. No registration is needed for parade- just show up in costume.

Freeholder Frank J. DiMarco, liaison to the Department of Parks, said, "The purpose of the event is to educate residents on the importance of butterflies and provide them with ways to attract them to their own yards. Programs will be available for both adults and children that teach the importance of butterflies and bees."

Adult programs include "Gardening for Butterflies" at noon and “All About Native Bees” at 3:15 p.m. Programs for children will include “Seeing Like a Bee” at noon, and “Amazing Butterflies” at 3:15 p.m.

For more information or a schedule of events, call their office at 856-307-6456, or email mcummings@co.gloucester.nj.us ###